Cleveland Browns notes: Jordan Cameron excused from practice

Tight end Jordan Cameron was excused from practice on Aug. 25 in an absence Coach Mike Pettine expects to be a very brief one.
Pettine would not say what kept Cameron away, but he implied it was not an injury.
“He’s just dealing with an issue,” Pettine said after practice. “He was excused from practice today. I won’t go into any other detail on that.”
Asked whether Cameron will practice Aug. 26 — the last full practice before the Browns conclude the preseason in a home game against the Bears on Aug. 28 — Pettine said, “That’s the expectation.”
Cameron was bothered by a shoulder injury early in training camp, but he played against the Redskins on Aug. 18 and against the Rams on Aug. 23. He caught two passes for 18 yards against the Rams.
Cameron would arguably be the most important player to the Browns offense if Josh Gordon is suspended for a lengthy time for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, as expected. The fourth-year player from USC caught 80 passes for 917 yards and seven touchdowns last season.
Pettine was asked during a conference call Aug. 24 whether anyone was injured in the game against the Rams.
“It was all minor stuff,’ he said. “Nothing happened to anybody that played in the game that I think will keep them out of this week’s game.”
Jim Dray would start at tight end if Cameron did not play against the Bears.Gordon practices
Gordon practiced Aug. 25. He did not play against the Rams, in part because of an abdominal injury but mainly because Pettine wanted the players who will be on the season-opening roster to get playing time.
Meanwhile, another day passed without the league making an announcement on Gordon. The Browns expected to learn of his fate before training camp began, and camp began exactly one month ago.
“We kind of have a feel for the range of it,” Pettine said. “Still, it’s something that, for as long as it’s been, we really still can’t … I probably shouldn’t have spoken on it yesterday. We’re just impatiently waiting.”
During a conference call Aug. 24, Pettine said: “We’re fairly certain that were not going to have him for a minimum of some part of the year.”Burleson eases back
Wide receiver Nate Burleson was part of individual drills Aug. 25. It was the first time he practiced since injuring his hamstring Aug. 6.
The Browns are lacking reliable receivers, to put it mildly. Burleson hopes to play against the Bears. Rosters must be down to 53 by 6 p.m. Aug. 30.
“I can’t speak on whether guys have a certain roster spot or not,” Pettine said. “First of all, it’s not my area. (General Manager) Ray (Farmer) and I will do that together, but that’s his ultimate say. It does hurt your chances not being out there, but it’s something where we’ll consider his entire body of work.”
Burleson caught 39 passes in nine games with the Lions last year.Cameo appearance
The starters will play less than a quarter against the Bears on Aug. 28, Pettine said. Pettine said quarterback Johnny Manziel will finish the first half, but he hasn’t decided whether the rookie will play in the third quarter.
Quarterback Rex Grossman is expected to play against the Bears. He did not play against Washington or St. Louis.Roster trimmed
The contract of wide receiver Anthony Armstrong was terminated. As a vested veteran, he does not have to clear waivers.
The following players were waived: running back Edwin Baker, OL Randall Harris, DB T.J. Heath, DL Cam Henderson, WR Jonathan Krause, OL Ryan Lee, LB Caleb McSurdy, OL Keavon Milton, LB Keith Pough, WR Tim Smith, OL Jeremiah Warren and TE Martell Webb.
As always happens at this time of year, the Browns are scrounging the waiver wire. On Aug. 25, they picked two offensive linemen discarded by the Eagles — Karim Barton and Donald Hawkins. Both were undrafted rookies in the Eagles’ training camp. Barton played his college ball at Morgan State and Hawkins played at Texas.
The Browns roster is at 78. It must be at 75 by 4 p.m. Aug. 26.